Leading with purpose through moments of crisis: Kimberly Seals Allers

In this episode of the Decision Corner, Brooke speaks with award-winning journalist Kimberly Seals Allers. Kimberly was formerly a senior editor at Essence and a writer at Fortune magazine. She now uses her decades of media experience as the founder of the IRTH app, which is specifically designed to help mothers of color rate their doctors for optimal health. She discusses the need for apps like IRTH, and how the tragedies that gave rise to the BLM movement last year impact the communities she serves. This episode is an important reminder of the realities that people of color face in both personal and professional environments.

Some of the topics discussed include…

• The discrepancy of maternal and infant mortality for peoples of color, and the need for apps like IRTH.
• The struggle that professional people of color have with ‘dual identities’, where they must separate their cultural and professional selves.
• The trauma experienced by entire communities in response to the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd over the Spring and Summer of 2020.
• The additional challenges faced by minority innovators, especially when it comes to issues of racism and cyber-security
• Why society needs to acknowledge that people of color have different experiences in professional and personal environments, and how the ignorance and denial of racism is one of its root causes.
• The ongoing struggle and the difficult conversations that are needed to start bringing about meaningful change.